Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ranj Pillai tabled amendments to the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act today in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
To ensure that Yukon’s resource economy grows in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way, the amendments to the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act would provide more clarity to resource companies, and additional administrative and enforcement tools for regulators.
The changes would also assist in limiting the environmental impact resource roads have in Yukon’s backcountry and ensure safety and liability concerns are addressed through providing better access management tools.
The proposed updates to the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act are an integral step toward creating a progressive and modernized management regime for resource development. These proposed changes will provide additional certainty on projects for our major industry partners for years to come.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ran Pillai
The Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act was first enacted in 2003 in conjunction with devolution of powers to Yukon from the Government of Canada. The Act is Yukon legislation that allows for the administration and management of territorial land by the Government of Yukon.
The Government of Yukon is developing a new resource roads regulation that clarifies rules around the construction, operation and decommissioning of Yukon’s resource roads. The resource roads regulation will address concerns about road access to the backcountry and will provide consistent rules for commercial resource users and operators of resource roads.
Renee Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Rod Jacob
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-3005
rod.jacob@yukon.ca